SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah women's soccer team has added Gabrielle Smart to its coaching staff, head coach Rich Manning announced Tuesday. Smart, who goes by Gabe, will join the team as an assistant coach and assume her duties immediately.

"Gabe has been one of the leading coaches in the state of Utah over the last several years," said Manning. "Her work with the Utah Avalanche club has helped lead them to national prominence so I was excited to hear about her interest in returning to the college game."

Smart has built an accomplished coaching resume across several levels, including college, high school and club soccer. In her last collegiate post, Smart started the soccer program at Utah Valley University and was its head coach from 2002-05. She also acted as the academic advisor for several sports.

"Gabe is an excellent coach, good motivator and has an outstanding eye for talent. She will bring a positive spirit to our group and, with her experience as an academic counselor, fits well with our philosophy to prepare our players for success off the field. We're excited about our future and the great challenges of playing Pac-12 soccer. We welcome Gabe with the confidence that she will help us achieve our highest goals."

Smart has coached several elite club teams in the state of Utah. She comes to the Utes from the Utah Avalanche Girls' Soccer Club, where she has served as the Director of Coaching since 2007. Smart's Avalanche 98 squad has won three consecutive State Cup championships from 2009-2011 and reached the quarterfinals at regionals. Her 91 Black U17 team was State Cup Champion in 2008 as well. In addition to her assistant coaching duties at Utah, Smart will remain the head coach for the Avalanche 98 and 96 ECNL (Elite Club National League) teams.

Smart also coached the accomplished Avalanche 94 Black team, which won a U.S. club regional tournament, reached the semifinals at nationals, won the Disney Showcase, President's Day and Las Vegas Showcase tournaments and reached the semifinals at Surf Cup.

Prior to the Avalanche, Smart won a State Cup title with her Inter FC U16 91 team in 2007. She was the director of coaching at Inter from 2004-07 and was the head coach and trainer for the Celtic Storm Soccer Club from 1998-2003, capturing three state titles. During that time she was also the head coach at Orem High School in 2002 and an assistant coach at Springville High School from 2000-2001.

Smart played her collegiate soccer at Brigham Young from 1994-96. She graduated from BYU in 1999 with a B.S. in Recreation Management. Originally from Whittier, Calif., she played high school soccer for La Serna High School and was a member of the Whittier Gold Stars club team.